Jim Higgins
Ceist:145 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received a headage payment. [22162/99]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The 1999 area aid application for the person named has now been fully processed with no outstanding errors. Any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:146 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the top ten payments to farmers under the ewe premium scheme. [22165/99]
Ivor Callely
Ceist:147 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the top ten payments to farmers under the goat headage scheme. [22166/99]
Ivor Callely
Ceist:148 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the top ten payments to farmers under the sheep headage scheme. [22167/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 146, 147 and 148 together.
The top ten payments to farmers under the 1999 sheep headage and ewe premium schemes and the 1998 goat headage scheme are shown in the following table.
The maximum payable to any farmer under the sheep headage scheme is £2,000 as payment is confined to 200 ewes. Several farmers will receive this amount. Accordingly, a random sample of ten payments is shown.
It should also be noted that in line with EU regulations, only the first and second instalments of the 1999 ewe premium have been paid as yet. Consequently, only details from payments of those two instalments can be given at this time. The third and final instalment cannot be paid until the EU regulation setting the rate of premium is published in spring 2000.
Payments under the 1999 goat headage scheme have not yet commenced.
Top ten payments under 1999 ewe premium, 1999 sheep headage and 1998 goat headage
|
County |
1999 Ewe premium |
County |
1999 Sheep headage |
|
Galway |
£44,127.11 |
Carlow |
£2,000 |
|
Leitrim |
£44,048.46 |
Cork |
£2,000 |
|
Cork |
£43,985.53 |
Cork |
£2,000 |
|
Tipperary |
£37,976.06 |
Kerry |
£2,000 |
|
Meath |
£25,390.78 |
Leitrim |
£2,000 |
|
Sligo |
£25,170.54 |
Mayo |
£2,000 |
|
Waterford |
£24,871.64 |
Mayo |
£2,000 |
|
Westmeath |
£23,597.39 |
Offaly |
£2,000 |
|
Tipperary |
£19,349.85 |
Roscommon |
£2,000 |
|
Dublin |
£19,336.66 |
Wicklow |
£2,000 |
|
County |
1998 Goat headage |
|
Cavan |
£1,200.00 |
|
Clare |
£1,050.00 |
|
Cork |
£650.00 |
|
Clare |
£640.00 |
|
Clare |
£640.00 |
|
Clare |
£556.25 |
|
Monaghan |
£550.00 |
|
Leitrim |
£500.00 |
|
Wexford |
£440.00 |
|
Kerry |
£420.00 |
John McGuinness
Ceist:149 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will expedite payments of agricultural grants to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [22236/99]
The person named declared a forage area of 20.69 hectares on his 1999 area aid application form. However, one of the plots of land declared by him was also included in the application of another herdowner. My Department has contacted both herdowners to clarify the matter and is awaiting a response. In the meantime initial payments in respect of special beef premium issued to him based on a lower forage figure of 12.08 hectares.
The person named also submitted 10.42 hectares of cereals on his 1999 area aid application. Full payment issued to him in respect of this application on 18 October 1999.
The person named submitted a special beef premium application in respect of 30 animals on 21 April 1999. One animal died on the holding leaving 29 animals eligible for payment. Under EU regulations governing the special beef premium scheme, a stocking density limit of two livestock units per hectare applies, based on the forage area declared on an applicant's area aid application form. On the basis of the lower forage area of 12.08 hectares the person named was therefore entitled to payment on a maximum of 24.16 reckonable livestock units.
Twenty three animals on the special beef premium application each have a livestock value of one livestock unit while the remaining six animals each have a livestock value of 0.6 LU. When the maximum stocking density of 24.16 reckonable livestock units is converted to animals, this allows for a maximum payment of 26.56 premia. A 60% payment totalling £1,364.28 in respect of 26.56 animals issued on 1 November 1999.
Michael Ring
Ceist:150 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive second and third year REP scheme payment; and the reason for the delay. [22237/99]
The application for a second year REPS payment was selected at random for a pre-payment inspection. An issue arose in relation to the eligibility of a leased commonage share and an amended plan to take account of this matter has been received. The area eligible for payment has, however, been reduced as a result and this has implications for payments already made. My Department will shortly communicate with the applicants directly.
Michael Ring
Ceist:151 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1999 sheep headage. [22238/99]
The 1999 area aid application of the person named was randomly selected for inspection. This inspection has taken place and the application can now be finally processed. Any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Michael Ring
Ceist:152 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1999 sheep headage as he has submitted the deeds of his land to prove ownership. [22240/99]
The applicant changed the details on one of the parcels he claimed as part of his 1999 area aid application. This change has now been entered on the Department's electronic database and processing has been completed with no outstanding errors. Any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Michael Ring
Ceist:153 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1999 sheep headage. [22241/99]
Payment of the 1999 sheep headage grant was made to the person named on 3 November 1999. Payment of the second advance of the 1999 ewe premium was made on 20 October 1999.
Michael Ring
Ceist:154 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when an appeal for headage and premia by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be completed. [22242/99]
The herdowner lodged an appeal on 15 September 1999 concerning his 1999 ewe premium-sheep headage application. Appeals are dealt with in the order in which they are received and require individual examination. This appeal will be examined in due course and the herdowner will be notified of the outcome.
Michael Ring
Ceist:155 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1999 headage and premia payments in view of that fact an inspector called and viewed the land claimed on his area aid several months ago. [22244/99]
The 1999 area aid application of the person named was randomly selected for inspection. The applicant applied for a total of 24.25 hectares. The area determined at inspection was 14.79 hectares. This represents a difference of 9.46 hectares or 63.96%. Under Article 9 of EU Regulation 3887/92, no penalty is applied when the difference is less than 3%, the penalty is based on double the difference when it is between 3% and 20% and when the difference is over 20%, a 100% penalty must be applied. Therefore, in this case, a full 100% penalty must be applied and no area aid related payments can be made.